The lawyer was kidnapped with four members of his family while they were returning to Anambra from a wedding ceremony in Abia State.
We actually travelled on Thursday last week to my hometown Nnobi in Idemili local government in Anambra state. We left Lagos and arrived safely. Then, on Friday, I had lost an aunt, my father’s only sister, and the burial was on Friday night. Then, my brother-in-law — my wife’s eldest brother – was giving out his daughter in marriage. So we were at Umudike near Umuahia, Abia State capital.
We went between the firing and in order to be safe, we had to stop – out of fear. But the Lexus Jeep continued in the front and never stopped and of course, was not kidnapped. They made sure we couldn’t make calls or receive calls. They now came to me and told me they have decided to release my wife and son so that they will go home and arrange how they will raise the N30 million for my release. I was glad that they were releasing at least two members of the family, remaining myself, my brother-inlaw and my wife’s cousin.
On Monday morning, they agreed to our N1 million and the Ezeji offered N150,000. On hearing our own, he increased it to N300,000. They judged by his dress and outlook, saying that he was richer. So, they began to torture him. When they were torturing him, they asked him to call someone. When he called his brother with my phone, they were beating him, the brother was hearing his cry. So, the Stanley now begged them not to torture his brother. He said he was ready to give them N10 million.
When they got the money, that was the first time I heard their phone ringing. Instead of calling my phone, they called their phone. They spoke in Hausa. Obviously, they were telling them they have gotten the money.